Acoustical building construction



April 16, 1935. w. M. MoNEIL ACOUSTICAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet J INVENTOR W/LL/AM M. MCA/E/L W T ATTCfiNZ April 16, 1935. w. M. MCNEIL ACOUSTICAII BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1934 INVENTOR WILL/AN! M. Ma NEIL.

' ATTORNEY;

Patented Apr. 16, 1935 PATENT OFFICE 1,998,425 ACOUSTICAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION William M.

McNeil, Warren, Ohio, assignor to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, 111.,

a corporation of Illinois Application July 28, 1934, Serial No. 737,328

8 Claims.

This invention relates to building constructions, and has reference more particularly to acoustical ceiling constructions.

In the construction of fireproof buildings, it is 6 customary to provide spaced steel beams surrounded by fireproof material. Bar joists or reinforced trusses usually extend transversely of the beams and the entire framework supports a 10 poured, cementitious floor. It is desirable in such terial between the beams which also serves to conceal the bar joists.

An object of this invention therefore, is to provide an acoustical ceiling construction. to extend between the beams so as to not only provide acoustical correction for a building, but also conceal the transverse joists or trusses.

Another object of the invention is to provide an acoustical ceiling construction which will be easy to erect and will produce a highly efiicient construction which will give excellent service over long periods of time; also to improve building constructions in other respects hereinafter specified and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved perforated metal membrane,

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a pair of the metal membranes in interlocking relation,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a locking member for the metal membranes,

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the finished building construction,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an attaching member for the membranes,

Fig. 6 is a perspective .view of an attaching clip.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation showing a modified form of membrane attachment, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation showing a further modified form of membrane attachment.

The building framework may consist of steel I beams) having webs upper flanges l2 and lower flanges I3, the latter being protected below by a fireproof cementitious tile I4. Fireproof vertical cementitious tiles l5 also protect the beams l0. Precast reinforced joists |6 extend transversely between the beams ID, the reinforcing H of each joist extending above the precast portion of the joist to form shoulders l8. Sheets of building material, such as gypsum wall boards I9 arelaid across the shoulders I8 and on top of the tiles l5. The ends of the reinforcing material extend beyond the precast section It to constructions to provide acoustical correction ma-' re: t on the beam flanges l2. A poured floor 20 is formed on top of the resulting structure, said floor being composed of gypsum, concrete or other suitable cementitious material. A nailing strip 2| is secured by nails 22 to the outer face of each 5 of the tiles I5 and a plaster coating 23 is applied to the exposed surfaces of tiles I I to make a fin ished appearance.

One of the salient features of the invention comprises an elongated metal membrane 24 which is provided over its entire surface with perforations 25 which may be triangular, round or other desired shape. An outstanding flange 26 is formed along each longitudinal edge of the membrane 24, each of said flanges terminating in a substantially V-shaped or return bent flange 21. It will be noted that the apex of each- V flange 21 points in a common direction so that when a pair of the membranes 24 are positioned in edge abutting relation, the V flanges 21 will telescope and maintain the membranes 24 in a common plane. In order to lock the V flanges together, an elongated metal strap or bracket 28 extends across the back face of the membrane 24 spanning the distance between the flanges 26. Upwardly inclined edge flanges 29' are struck from the metal of one end of strap 28, said flanges 29 terminating in a latch 30 which is adapted to snap over the V flanges 21 and engage the outer edges thereof to lock said V flanges together. A 30 longitudinal stifiening rib 3| is pressed in the strap 28 to impart longitudinal rigidity to said strap. On" the end of strap 28 opposite the latch 30, an upwardly extending spacing flange 32 is formed to engage inside one of the V flanges 21, and a downwardly extending spacing lug 33 is struck from the metal of the strap to bear against one of the membrane flanges 26. A sound absorbing pad 34 of mineral wool or other fibrous material is laid on top of the straps 28 to absorb the sound passing through the perforations 25 and thus correct the acoustics in a room.

The membranes 2. are made of sufficient length to span the distance between the nailing strips 2| and in order to support the ends of the membranes I provide a substantially L-shaped, metallic runner 35 at each end of the membrane, said runner having a downwardly extending leg 36 provided with nail holes 31 so that said leg can be attached to nailing strip 2| by means of the nails 22. 'A return bent flange 38 is formed along the lower edge of runner leg 36 and clips 39 are arranged along said flange 38, said clips being provided at their upper ends with return bent flanges 40 which engage the flanges 38. An

outstanding flange 4| is formed on the bottom of each of the clips 39 and serves to engage under the end of the membrane 24 to support the same. An outstanding, substantially horizontal leg 42 is formed along the upper edge of runner 36, said flange terminating in resilient section 43 which presses upon the V-shaped flanges 21 to firmly confine the membranes 24 between the clip flanges 4| and the sections 43. A molding 44 of wood, metal or other suitable material is secured to the nailing strip 2| below the clip flanges 4| so as to present a finished appearance from below.

In the modified form of membrane attachment shown in Fig. 7, the attaching clips shown in Fig. 6 are bent into the form shown in Fig. '7, the return bent flange 40 engaging the edge of membrane 24 and a nail 45 is driven through a nail hole 46 in said clip into a nailing strip 41 to secure the membranes in position. In this form of attachment, the ends of the membranes 24 rest on top of the nailing strip 41. In the preferred form of membrane attachment shown in Fig. 8, the ends of membranes 24 rest on top of nailing strips 48. An attaching clip 49 of wire or the like, is provided at its upper end with ,a transversely extending leg 50 which extends through a membrane perforation 25 and rests on top of said membrane. A transversely extending prong is formed on the lower end of the clip 49 and is driven into the nailing strip 48 to secure the membrane in position.

I would state in conclusion, that while the i1- lustrated examples constitute practical embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself precisely to these details, since manifestly, the same may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an acoustical building construction, a plurality of elongated, metallic, perforated membranes supported in a plane in edge abutting relation, an outstanding flange formed along each longitudinal edge of said membranes, reverse bent flanges formed on the outer edge of each outstanding flange, the reverse bent flanges of adjacent membranes being arranged in interlocking relation, and clamping means for locking said reverse bent flanges together.

2. In an acoustical building construction, a plurality of elongated, metallic, perforated membranes supported in a plane in edge abutting relation, an outstanding flange formed along each longitudinal edge of said membranes, adjoining outstanding flanges having interfitting parts, elongated locking members spanning between said outstanding flanges and arranged to lock adjoining flanges together, and a sound absorbing pad supported by said locking members.

3. In an acoustical ceiling construction, a pair of spaced supporting members in parallel relation, a substantially L-shaped metallic runner having one leg secured to each of said supporting members, a return bent flange formed on said leg, substantially L-shaped clips having return bent flanges received by said first mentioned return bent flanges and having a horizontally extending outstanding leg, each of said runners having a resilient leg extending in a general horizontal direction, perforated, elongated, metallic membranes spanning between said supporting members and having each end of said membrane confined between said resilient runner leg and said outstanding clip leg,'and a sound absorbing pad positioned above said membranes.

4. In an acoustical ceiling construction, a plurality of beams supported in spaced, parallel relation in a horizontal plane, fireproofing material surrounding said beams, nailing strips secured to said fireproofing material, elongated, metallic, perforated membranes extending between said beams and fireproofing material, means secured to said nailing strips for supporting the ends of said membranes, and a sound absorbing pad supported above said membranes.

5. A construction as described in claim 4 characterized by a molding secured to each of said nailing strips below said supporting means.

6. A construction as described in claim 4 characterized by an attaching clip having a leg at one end extending through a perforation in a membrane, and a pointed prong at the other end arranged to be driven into said nailing strip.

7. A construction as described in claim 2 characterized by a resilient catch formed on one end of each of said locking members adapted to engage said interfitting parts of said membranes so as' to lock said membranes together in edge abutting relation.

8. A construction as described in claim 4 characterized by a clip having a reverse bent flange at the upper end thereof engaging the end of a membrane, said clip being secured to said nailing strip.

WILLIAM M. McNEIL. 

